Britain clears visas to nuclear scientists after long delay

The British government, which refused visas to two senior nuclear scientists from India to attend a conference at Oxford, has agreed to issue the visa now, though the conference ended on July 18.

A communication the British deputy high commission in Madras sent Dr Placido Rodriguez, director of the Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research, and Dr Baldevraj, director of the IGCAR metallurgy and materials group, said it had received authorisation to issue the visa if they were able to reschedule their visit.

The two scientists had been invited by Elseveer Publishers,UK, to be the subject editors for their encyclopaedia of material science and technology.

Sources at Kalpakkam said the British authorities expressed regret for the delay and offered to refund the visa charges.